Katherine Govier

Katherine Govier (born July 4, 1948) is an acclaimed Canadian novelist, short story writer, and community builder recognized for her vivid historical fiction and dedicated advocacy for marginalized voices. Writers' Trust of Canada notes she was born in Edmonton, Alberta, and educated at the University of Alberta and York University. Over a distinguished four-decade literary career, Govier has published ten novels, three short-story collections, and two travel-writing anthologies, frequently exploring the lives of artists and bold historical figures in masterpieces such as Creation (a New York Times Notable Book of 2003) and The Printmaker's Daughter (also published as The Ghost Brush). Beyond her own writing, she has shaped Canada's literary landscape by serving as president of PEN Canada and chair of the Writers’ Trust of Canada. In 2011, she founded The Shoe Project, a widely celebrated national charity that empowers immigrant and refugee women to improve their English fluency and public speaking by writing memoirs centered on the shoes that symbolize their journeys to Canada. In recognition of her immense contributions to literature and her profound support for newcomer women, Govier was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2019.